The initiative by the Fundació Oncolliga Girona has raised over €50,000 to help cancer patients.
As with previous editions, a team from Clínica Girona took part in Oncobike-2019, the solidarity mountain bike race organised by the Fundació Oncolliga Girona, the Club Ciclista Sant Gregori and the association Cingles de la Llémena. The event, held on October 19th in the Vall de Llémena, successfully raised over €50,000. The money will be used to fund the Comprehensive Oncological Aesthetics service that Oncolliga launched eighteen months ago to improve the well-being of cancer patients.
A total of 440 cyclists, split into 73 teams, participated in this year's event. Of the 73 teams, 58 completed the longer route, 200km, and 15 opted for the shorter option, 113km.
Both routes take place along paths and tracks in the Llémena Valley, with control points and rest stops in Sant Gregori, Llorà, Sant Esteve de Llémena, Sant Aniol de Finestres and Canet d’Adri. Of those who completed the short route, the first to cross the finish line were members of Team A from the Platja d’Aro Cycling Club, with a time of 07:04:00. For their part, the Hors Categorie Girona team was once again the first to complete the longer route, with a time of 09:34:59, after also finishing in first place in the other two editions in which they had previously participated, in 2016 and 2018.
The Clínica Girona team
The Clínica Girona team, who have also participated in all previous editions of the Oncobike, finished this time in the middle of the general classification of the longest race, the one with a distance of 200 km, with a time of 12 hours and 14 minutes.
The Oncobike was born in 2016 with the aim of offering mountain bike lovers a sporting and solidarity challenge in the style of the Oncotrail, the trail running race that Oncolliga has been organising since 2013 in Baix Empordà. To participate, teams of between four and six cyclists must be formed, of which two must always be out on the route. To register, teams must make a minimum donation of 500 euros to Oncolliga, although many teams far exceed this minimum amount.
After two initial editions raising funds to improve the home-residence service that Oncolliga offers to cancer patients and their families in the Girona regions, since last year donations have been allocated to financing the Comprehensive Oncological Aesthetics service, which aims to prevent and minimise the side effects that oncological treatments have on the skin and mucous membranes of patients, especially women.
Skin toxicity, dry mucous membranes (mouth, vaginal, etc.), hypersensitivity to the sun, acne, or itching are some of these side effects. All of them are temporary, but very bothersome, and the aim of this service is to minimise them so that the patient gains quality of life and well-being, and in turn, improves their state of mind. The programme, which was first implemented in Girona and Olot, is currently also available in Palamós and Campdevànol, and will soon reach the towns of Figueres and Blanes.
Sum of efforts
The Oncobike is a sporting and charity event organised thanks to the combined efforts of the Oncolliga Girona Foundation, the Sant Gregori Cycling Club, and the Cingles de la Llémena association, with the support of the town councils of the Vall de Llémena Municipal Association (Sant Gregori, Sant Martí de Llémena, Sant Aniol de Finestres, and Canet d’Adri) and over a hundred volunteers who are responsible for logistics and assisting runners at the refuelling stations.
More information on the Oncobike website
